Gig Reviews: Review of Young Guns at the HMV Forum, London with support from Dangerous!, The Xcerts and Every Avenue- September 16th, 2011

by megansmith

For a band that released their debut album only a year ago, on their own label, Young guns are doing awfully well for themselves. Over the past couple of years, they’ve bagged themselves slots supporting the likes of Lostprophets, All time low and rock titans, Bon Jovi; not to mention playing the main stage at the legendary Reading Festival. It’s impressive how far they’ve come in such a short space of time and something tells me headlining venues like the forum is something the boys will be getting used to.

As opening support band, Dangerous! begin their set, the floor is barely filled. At first it seems the unknown openers will have a challenge on their hands winning over the London crowd, but by the end of their first song, it is clear that they have what it takes. With fast energetic riffs and punchy choruses reminiscent of the Hives, and front man Tommy Lofts’ caustic vocal and oozing natural confidence; the crowd are immediately onside and the reaction suggests that the Australian four-piece are destined for big things.

The Xcerts put on a far less exciting show than their Aussie predecessors. Self labelled as ‘distorted pop’, they are essentially an indie rock band and one that fails to drum up much excitement in London tonight. They open with perhaps their strongest song ‘Do you feel safe?’ which achieves a good reaction, especially amongst the several die-hard fans that have clearly come out just to see the Scottish trio.  They come across as a band that would go down very well with a certain type of audience but tonight, as of the moment Every Avenue hit the stage, the Xcerts are forgotten.

After sitting through two bands already, the Young Guns fans are getting agitated with anticipation, almost certainly  feeling  it is completely unnecessary to bring on a third support act; however, Every Avenue  have their fair share of supporters scattered around the venue willing the pop-punk quintet to prove these pessimists wrong. And Every Avenue do just that.  Sing-a-long hits ‘Where were you’ and ‘For always, forever’ and final number ‘Tell me I’m a wreck’ prove themselves to be the perfect teenage anthems; provoking hundreds of feet to leave the floor, pretty much everyone bouncing in unison and screaming at the top of their lungs. At times, vocalist Dave Strauchman comes across a little detached from both his band mates and the fans, maybe it’s just nerves; but Every Avenue’s ability to produce hit after hit paired with Dave’s gorgeous voice make up for the lack of crowd interaction.

Finally, Young Guns explode onto the stage with fan favourite ‘Elements’; the monumental riff filling the theatre and marking the arrival of the moment everybody’s been eagerly waiting for. Three songs in, a lighting technical difficulty forces the boys to temporarily retire backstage; whilst their roadies frantically try to correct the problem. After several restless minutes, there is still no sign of success; but the show must go on. Lead singer Gustav Wood returns to the stage, apologising and promising all that Young Guns, being the ‘D.I.Y’ band they claim to be, will finish the set with a couple of makeshift lights dotted around the place. After the lighting drama, the band make the best of a bad situation and up their game for the remaining songs. The most recent single ‘Stitches’ is without doubt the highlight of the evening; the fans lapping up the emotion in Wood’s haunting vocal, the sweeping guitar solos and even obeying the command to kneel on the floor and jump up in unison for the final chorus.  The band were determined to not let anything ruin their biggest headliner show to date and they leave their home town crowd sweaty and exhausted but happy.